Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Nick Braden, through his role at the store, has his finger on the pulse when it comes to furniture. 'If the kitchen is updated, but their furniture is outdated it'll drive down the price,' said Braden. Photo: Ali James/Special to the News Sentinel

Photo submitted Remove about half of the books in built-in shelves to make it a decorative feature,' suggested realtor Connie McNamara. She also likes to use artwork and candles to draw attention to a feature such as fireplace mantel.

'We always tell our customers that staging begins at the curb, buyers make a 10 second decision as they pull up,' said Kricket Long, co-owner of Stagehands. 'We like to use rocking chairs and topiaries to flank the front doors.' Photo submitted (Photo: Picasa)

Photo submitted 'People over accessorize their homes and it really doesn't show well,' explained Nick Braden. 'Poor pictures mean less showings.' He opts for symmetry, such as lamps and side tables in pairs.

Attracting home buyers needn't mean spending thousands of dollars. Often, a few simple tweaks, a little elbow grease and some savvy reorganization can pay dividends. Local home experts share their ideas for giving your house a good first impression.

'I started staging homes and could see that it quickly made a difference,' said Connie McNamara of Connie McNamara Real Estate Group with Keller Williams. 'The pictures looked better, then we would get more showings, the houses sold quicker and for more money.'

'Curb appeal is the critical first impression,' she said. 'Clear walkways and remove excessive old pots, lawn ornaments and pet dishes. Add some mulch if needed and a few fresh flowers; pansies are easy to maintain. Even if you don't do anything to the rest of the landscape, make sure you add a pot of flowers next to the door.'

Inside, take away anything too 'taste-specific,' she suggested. 'Pack away the huge doll and rooster collection. They may deter buyers.'

While it sounds obvious, paint can fade or discolor over time. McNamara said that fresh paint and flooring are what helps to sell the quickest.

The buyer will look down, up and around at everything, McNamara warned. Pay attention to ceiling fans and light fixtures — everything should be sparkling clean. She also suggested repairing and painting over cracks and stains; people may worry about a leak even if there is not one.

And in the bathroom, get the tile grout steam cleaned. 'It can really make a difference to that old grout,' she said.

'Cabinet hardware is a really easy update,' said McNamara. 'If it's an old brass, go to a brushed nickel, chrome or bronze. And take it a step further, updating the front door hardware.'

An area rug can add a nice pop of color, but hardwood floors are a desirable feature, so don't use too many rugs, said McNamara.

In the living room, she suggested sellers drape a beautiful throw across the arm of a chair or sofa to draw people in. Adding fresh flowers to a coffee table and just a couple of home decorating magazines and real green plants also add a pop of color.

Ashley Finney, agent/owner of the A Team with Realty Executives, will often tackle the staging of a smaller scale listing herself. 'I started doing it because I really enjoyed it,' she explained.

'You've got to make sure your walkways aren't blocked,' said Finney. 'Make sure you're pulling buyers into the room. Find that focal point to bring them into the room and have their eyes flow seamlessly through the room.'

Add white, even if it's a simple white floral arrangement, Finney suggests. 'It draws people in and it photographs well,' she explained.

'Declutter, remove the majority of items off your counters in both the bathroom and the kitchen,' suggested Finney. 'Keep your bedspreads a nice neutral color, nothing too busy, and lots of neutral pillows.'

Avoid feature walls, anything that basically removes the buyer's attention from the home itself, she suggested. While Finney said that the rules for home staging are pretty consistent, she is seeing a lot of grey when it comes to neutral color schemes that have mass appeal.

Lighting is another inexpensive update. Finney likes to add contemporary Restoration Hardware-inspired fixtures, often with a trendy Edison-inspired bulb. But most importantly, 'Make sure all of your lights have bulbs in them,' she stressed.

Kricket Long and Amy Atchley run Stagehands Home Stagers and Re-designers. Spring through fall is the busiest season for this interior decorating duo.

'The main thing we see that just drives us crazy are the pictures posted online,' said Long. 'We've seen some with empty beer cans on the coffee table. There's just not been any effort. That's where people look first. Think about what you have to do to appeal to the most people and that starts with online pictures.'

'We always tell our customers that staging begins at the curb. Buyers make a 10-second decision as they pull up,' said Long. 'We like to use rocking chairs and topiaries to flank the front doors.'

Replacing taste-specific artwork with decorative mirrors is another way to reflect natural light, particularly in the foyer, according to Long. Throw pillows featuring words such as 'Home' on them are popular and engaging, too. They also employ decorative boxes to stash clutter like TV remotes and add trays on beds and coffee tables for a touch of luxe. 'And lots of candles — LED, of course,' said Long.

'We like it to smell good,' said Long. 'Vanilla, cinnamon and home-baked cookie fragrances are scents that most people that don't have an adverse reaction to.'

'It's nice to show a dual-purpose space,' said Long. 'When people can visualize that, whether they want to use it that way or not, they know they can.' For home office space they opt for an appropriately sized desk and make it decorative, yet functional.

And if a home boasts a space such as a mud room where kids can put all of their stuff, then showcase that.

'About three years ago, we started dabbling in home staging,' said Nick Braden, vice president of Bradens Lifestyle. They rent out everything for a top-to-bottom staging project, including furniture, linen, lamps, rugs and artwork.

'The biggest thing that we provide is proper furniture placement for home traffic flow,' explained Braden. 'With an empty home people can't picture how they will utilize the space. We get the right balance with a lot of seating, but it still feels open. The benefit to staging is defining rooms as what they can actually be.'

Depending on the style of the home Braden likes to identify a focal point in a room first, whether it is a view or the stacked stone fireplace, and then place furniture to suit.

Braden said it is important to get a feel for the perspective buyers' age group from the realtor — are they retired or a young family? — before he starts developing a plan.

'People over-accessorize their homes and it really doesn't show well,' explained Braden. 'Poor pictures mean fewer showings.' He opts for symmetry, such as lamps and side tables in pairs.

'I always advise people to take out family photos, and that's a weird thing for people,' he said. 'It's time for them to break up with their home, depersonalize the home.'

Read or Share this story: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/life/2016/04/14/stage-right-local-experts-share-their-tips-to-market-a-home/90891950/